The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

CM turns to civil society for promoting peace in state
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 22
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asked the civil society to render wholehearted support to his government for maintaining peace and to help carry peace dividends to every area in the shape of development and economic welfare.

The Chief Minister said this while interacting with prominent members of the civil society at an interactive session for nearly five hours at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) here last evening.

Omar expressed satisfaction over people’s determination to help maintain peace in the state. He said it was heartening to note that for the first time during the last three years, members of the civil society did not raise any issue relating to the misuse of power or high-handedness by security forces in the interactive session.

“In a similar meeting last year held in this hall you were apprehensive about the law and order situation. In contrast, you today concentrated on development and also praised various initiatives of the government taken for peace and development in the state which is indeed encouraging,” he added.

“The government will devote the fullest attention to maintaining peace and carrying forward the development agenda with commitment and missionary zest,” he said and sought the help of the civil society in this stupendous task.

“You have seen the benefits of peace by witnessing holistic development in all sectors. It also paved the way for removing 40 bunkers alone from Srinagar city and many more from other parts of the Valley. It also helped reduce the number of security forces,” he asserted.

Omar referred to the initiatives taken by his government such as the enactment of the Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA), Right to Information Act, third-party monitoring of development projects, e-tendering and e-procurement aimed at bringing transparency in the functioning of the administration and making the government answerable to the public.

OMAR SPEAK

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah spoke on various issues during his interaction with civil society members on Tuesday. Here are snapshots of the interactive session:

‘New chidren’s hospital for Srinagar’

“The major failure in reporting the condition and status of GB Pant Hospital (in Srinagara) by the management concerned to the top levels in the government made things worse. As soon as I received the details of shortcomings of the hospital, immediate measures both on administrative and service delivery disciplines were taken and we expect improvement within days.

“A capable Medical Superintendent has been made in charge of the hospital. Shifting of children’s hospital from Lal Ded to GB Pant Hospital was not a good decision. A new children’s hospital is being constructed near SMHS hospital on modern lines,” Omar said.

‘Houseboat owners to flourish’

“The tourism sector is of economic importance for the state. While we are concentrating on opening new destinations for tourists, equal thrust is on the development of adventure, sports and pilgrim tourism. Houseboat is the heritage of the state and its extinction would not be allowed at all. The government will provide all possible help to the owners of houseboats to maintain them and extend the best service to visitors and flourish economically,” Omar declared.

‘Pak not allowing flights from Srinagar’

On international status of the Srinagar airport, Omar said that Pakistan’s refusal to allow flights from Srinagar over its air space to foreign countries has put a big question mark on this prestigious project. “This is strange that our neighbour is allowing flights from any state of India over its air space except Jammu and Kashmir. We hope better relations between the two countries will help remove this bottleneck so that people of the state get benefited equally.”

‘Rehabilitation of traders a priority’

The rehabilitation of traders, affected by widening of roads and raising of other public service infrastructure has been flagged as prerequisite. “Agencies concerned have been directed to attend to it on priority”. Omar said he had directed the concerned to start work on the prestigious Rs 256-crore Jehangir Chowk-Natipora flyover only after completing the rehabilitation of the affected traders.

Rain, snow bring chill back to Valley
Fruit, paddy crops damaged in north Kashmir
M Aamir Khan
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 22
Snowfall in the upper reaches and frequent spells of rainfall in the plains over the past few days have brought the chill back to Kashmir, forcing locals to wear woollens and use heating appliances during summer. Rains have also damaged fruit and paddy crops in parts of north Kashmir.

Srinagar city witnessed 8.4 mm rain from last night till 5.30 pm today while recording maximum and minimum temperatures of 18.5 and 10.1° Celsius, respectively. An official of the Meteorological Department said the maximum temperature was six degrees below normal.

The tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded 5.1°C night temperature while the maximum temperature stood at 12.3°C. Pahalgam recorded 10.6 mm rainfall during the course of the day. Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, witnessed 11.8 mm rainfall from last night while recording 15.5°C maximum temperature. The minimum temperature at Qazigund stood at 9.6°C.

The ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of -3°C, which is nine degrees below normal.

The upper reaches of the Valley witnessed fresh overnight snowfall. The Sonamarg area and the Baltal Base Camp leading to the holy Amarnath cave shrine in Ganderbal district received two to three inches of snow, an official said.

Due to a dip in temperatures, people can be seen draped in woollens, especially during the morning and evening hours. Heaters and hot water bottles too have made a comeback after locals were seen wearing summer clothing a few days back.

The Director, MeT Department, Sonam Lotus, said the Valley was witnessing comparatively colder temperatures this season due to the western disturbances. However, weather is expected to improve from tomorrow. “Light rainfall is expected tonight but the next four to five days will remain dry,” Lotus told The Tribune.

The rains have also caused damage to fruit and paddy crops in north Kashmir. Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir has directed the Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, to set up a team of officers of the revenue, agriculture and horticulture departments to assess the damages. The Deputy Commissioner has also been asked to submit the report to the government within 15 days so that the affected farmers could be compensated under the Natural Calamity Fund.

Cloudburst kills two in Budgam

Two persons were killed due to cloudbursts at different places in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, the police said on Tuesday.

Abdul Rahim Dar was struck by a cloudburst at Khag. He died on the spot.

In another incident, Bashir Ahmad Bhat got injured due to a cloudburst at Pohuro Charar-i-Sharif. He was shifted to Nagam Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Amarnath yatra: Bad weather hampers track clearance work
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 22
Bad weather for the past more than a week is proving to be a major problem for track clearance work and other arrangements related to the ensuing Amarnath yatra.

This was disclosed at a meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). The meeting was attended by Chief Executive Officer, SASB, Navin K Choudhary; Additional CEO PP Singh; General Manager (Works) KG Bamba, senior engineering staff of the SASB and the district administration.

The CEO said, “The weather this year is following a very unusual pattern. After the record snowfall during winter, it was expected that weather would clear and allow start of clearing works on yatra tracks and other necessary arrangements at base camps well in time for the yatra.”

“We are witnessing continuous rainfall in Pahalgam and the Baltal base camp areas and incessant snowfall in higher reaches of the yatra route. There was snowfall not only in the entire yatra route yesterday, but two
to three inches of snow accumulated at the Baltal base camp and Sonamarg,” said Choudhary.

The Governor directed the CEO and all engineering personnel to prepare a contingency plan and deploy additional manpower immediately to ensure track clearance and other yatra arrangements before the start of the yatra. The Governor also directed the CEO to personally supervise snow-clearance works and other activities in the coming days.

It was also decided that the Governor and the CEO, SASB, would make another aerial reconnaissance of both the yatra routes on June 2 and try to land at Panjtarni and the holy cave.

The aerial survey of Pahalgam-Chandanwari-Pissutop-Sheshnag-Panjtarni-holy cave route could not be done on May 19, as the helicopter carrying the Governor and the CEO was not able to proceed beyond Chandanwari due to bad weather.

The Governor and the CEO conducted an aerial survey of Baltal-Domel-Sangam-holy cave-Panjtarni axis on May 16 and it was observed that the entire area was buried under deep snow.

Govt kickstarts process to bring in three-tier panchayat system
Begins procedure to conduct Block Development Council elections
Dinesh Manhotra/TNS

Jammu, May 22
A tough stand taken by Congress leaders against the “delay tactics” to delegate powers to the panchayats seems to be yielding results as the government has started the process of conducting elections to the Block Development Council (BDC) to gradually put in place the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in the state.

Sources said Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar today convened a meeting of senior officers of his department. The meeting thoroughly discussed the issue of conducting BDC elections as early as possible. In the meeting, June 6 was fixed as the last date for final publication of the electoral rolls.

“Within 10 days after publication of the final electoral rolls, notification for the BDC elections would be issued”, sources said and added that officers of the Rural Development Department (RDD) have been directed to start the process on a war-footing.

The government, the sources said, has given its consent to holding the elections to BDCs across the state so as to establish the other two tiers of the Panchayati Raj. After constitution of the BDCs, elections to the District Development Committees (DDCs) would be held to complete the process of establishing the three-tier Panchayati Raj system.

A total of 4,128 sarpanchs and over 33,500 panchs will participate in the elections to elect Chairmen of the Block Development Councils, which are the second tier of the Panchayati Raj system.

The government has decided to conduct BDC elections as early as possible because coalition partner Congress has stepped up attack on the National Conference for adopting “delay tactics” for setting up the three-tier Panchayati Raj in the state.

In a veiled warning to the National Conference, the Congress in the Srinagar conclave on Saturday had demanded implementation of the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir to empower the panchayats.

Congress leaders had pointed out that delay in formation of BDCs was sending out a wrong message across the state and people who had participated in panchayat poll were feeling betrayed. Sources said a meeting of the panchayat members would be convened on May 28 to delegate more powers to them.

Governor releases book on Shaikh-ul-Alam

Governor NN Vohra releases a book on Sufi saint Shaikh-ul-Alam in Srinagar on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Srinagar, May 22
Governor NN Vohra has emphasised the urgent need for creating a corpus for the promotion of philosophy, literature, writings and poetry of Shaikh-ul-Alam, a great multi-dimensional Sufi saint, social reformer and a renowned spiritual personality of Kashmir.

The Governor said this while releasing “Shaikh-ul-Alam: Kashmir Revisited”, a book in English written by Dr Farooq Fayaz, at a function organised by the Adbi Markaz Kamraz in collaboration with Allama Iqbal Library, University of Kashmir (KU), here today.

The Governor, who is the Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, told Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir Talat Ahmad that an organised effort needed to be made for collecting poetry, literature or write-ups on Shaikh-ul-Alam and document, preserve and translate these into various languages for the benefit of society. He observed that Shaikh-ul-Alam, also known as Nund Reshi, had believed in what he had preached, adding that the University of Kashmir could contribute in a big way to disseminate his message of peace, harmony and pluralism.

The Governor called upon writers, intellectuals and academicians to contribute to restore the pristine glory of Kashmir, as a seat of knowledge and learning and bring Jammu and Kashmir on the literary map of the country.

The Governor congratulated Dr Fayaz for writing a well-researched book on Shaikh-ul-Alam. Referring to the excellent recitation of verses of Shaikh-ul-Alam by Musarat, a Class VIII student from Chrar-i-Sharief, on this occasion, the Governor suggested to the KU Vice-Chancellor to arrange a scholarship for her. He announced a cash reward of Rs 10,000 for the girl for her recitation of Shaikh-ul-Alam’s poetry.

The Vice-Chancellor said scholars could benefit from the Shaikh-ul-Alam chair, set up at the university, by taking up research work on identified facets of the life and teachings of the poet-saint.

Dr Fayaz, Director, Academic Staff College, University of Kashmir, and the author of the book, explained the aim and objectives of writing the volume. — TNS

PC to visit Valley today
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 22
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will arrive on a day-long visit here tomorrow to review the security situation in the state.

Official sources said the Union Home Minister was scheduled to visit Kargil in the Ladakh region, where he would land directly from New Delhi for a function.

Chidambaram will be received at Kargil by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah along with some of his ministerial colleagues and senior security officers.

During his visit to the summer capital later, the Home Minister is expected to hold a meeting with the Chief Minister and senior officers of the administration on security and other development activities.

Chidambaram’s visit follows that of Union Home Secretary RK Singh’s visit to the state last week. Singh interacted with cross-LoC traders in Kashmir and Jammu.This visit assumes significance ahead of the Home Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan on May 24, 25.

Omar describes J-K youth as talented human resource
Inaugurates facilities at BGSBU varsity
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 22
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today described youth of the state as a talented human resource, which was capable of bringing in well-sought transformation in the socio-economic scenario, and laying of a strong edifice for lasting peace and prosperity in the state.

During an interactive session with students of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) after laying the foundation stones and inaugurating various facilities at the university, the Chief Minister asked the students to pay full attention to their studies and prove their mettle in the practical field after completion of higher education.

Omar said his government had focused on introduction of subjects of marketability and modern utility in higher education institutions to prepare a befitting and qualitative human resource, which could lead in all fields of science and technology. He said the reach of advanced learning and higher education had been enhanced all across the state by opening of new institutions and upgrading existing ones. He said accessibility to higher and technical education was now within the possible range of every student, intending to pursue higher goals in different fields of modern studies.

The Chief Minister said various universities and their campuses functioning across the state were becoming the hubs of higher education. “Our aim is to further strengthen their status by providing all help from the government,” he said. He added that qualified faculty, appropriate laboratories and latest study material played a vital role in the success and delivery of higher education. He stressed on focusing on these issues and creating a learning atmosphere in various campuses.

Minister for Higher Education Abdul Gani Malik accompanied the Chief Minister.

Direct Haj flights from Srinagar

Srinagar, May 22
The Ministry of External Affairs has agreed to operate direct Haj flights from here to Saudi Arabia. Minister of State for Haj, Auqaf and Fisheries Ajaz Ahmed Khan has been assured by the Ministry of External Affairs that direct Haj flights would be operated from Srinagar to Jeddah via New Delhi and vice versa.

The assurance came during a conference held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna, an official spokesman said here.

Khan also requested the Ministry for an additional quota of 2,000 seats for the state during the current year in addition to the already allotted quota of 5,604 seats. — TNS

Indo-Pak Secretary-level talks
Mufti optimistic about smooth cross-LoC trade, travel

Jammu, May 22
Reiterating the demand of providing requisite facilities to further facilitate the cross-LoC trade, patron of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today hoped that some concrete steps would be taken during the Indo-Pak Home Secretary-level talks to ensure hassle-free cross-LoC trade and travel.

Addressing a public meeting at Gool in Ramban district, Mufti stressed on the need of credible banking facilities and proper communication system to harness the full potential of the trans-LoC trade. He said opening of the cross-LoC trade was the most significant and historic confidence building measures (CBM) which needed to be further facilitated in the larger interest of peace and prosperity in the region. “I hope that the Home Secretaries of India and Pakistan in their meeting on May 24 and 25 would take some bold steps to further facilitate the cross-LoC trade and travel,” he said and observed that restrictions imposed on the free movement of people and commodities had only deprived the region of the vast potential of economic activities that could have changed the socio-economic conditions of people of the state.

“Besides simplifying the cross-LoC trade procedure, there should be a free movement of people on both the sides of the LoC because cooperation on economic, social and cultural fronts is the only way to bring the people of the subcontinent together,” he observed.

Reiterating the resolve of his party to accelerate the peace process, the PDP patron said the aim of the PDP was to restore peace with dignity in the region and to develop Jammu and Kashmir as an example of progress and development in the subcontinent. “The PDP wants that Kashmir, which is the bone of contention between India and Pakistan, should be converted into a bridge between two neigbouring nations to normalise the relation,” he said. He said the friendship between India and Pakistan was in the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. — TNS

Intruder killed in Poonch
Darshan Bharti

Poonch, May 22
Army troops foiled an infiltration bid by terrorists in the Gambir area in Balakote sector in Poonch district last night. One of the infiltrators was killed while he was trying to sneak into the Indian territory, an Army spokesman today said.

The spokesman said 43 Rashtriya Rifles noticed a movement of three or four terrorists along the LoC in the Gambir area last night around 12:30 am. When Army troops confronted them and asked them to surrender, they opened fire on the security forces. In the ensuing gun battle that lasted for 30 minutes, the security forces gunned down one terrorist while others managed to flee.

In the search operation, which started in the wee hours today, the security forces recovered the body of one of the terrorists whose identity is yet to be ascertained. The search operation is still on to nab the other infiltrators.

In the gun battle, rifleman Sujit of 43 RR also received injuries when he stepped over a drifted landmine. He has been evacuated to Rajouri for further treatment, the spokesman added.